Israel has returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians following the return of an Israeli hostage by Hamas. The International Committee of the Red Cross assisted in the transfer of the bodies to Gaza. Two hostages, one Israeli and one Thai national, are still believed to be in Gaza. Hamas has stated its commitment to fulfilling the agreement by returning both hostages.
Mediators from Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt convened in Cairo to discuss the next phase of the ceasefire. This will involve deploying an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to maintain security and oversee the disarmament of Hamas, a crucial demand from Israel. Indonesia has expressed intentions to contribute 20,000 peacekeepers to the ISF.
Questions linger over the implementation timeline of the ceasefire plan, despite its current stability amid allegations of violations by both sides. Israel has agreed to exchange 15 Palestinian bodies for each recovered hostage under the truce. The Gaza Health Ministry confirmed the return of 345 Palestinian bodies, with only 99 identified due to limited DNA testing resources in Gaza.
In a separate development, the Israeli military conducted an operation in Tubas, West Bank, utilizing Apache helicopters and military vehicles to counter alleged terrorist activities. The IDF stated the operation was in response to attempts to establish terror strongholds in the area. The assault on Tubas follows a series of military actions in the West Bank, targeting Palestinian militancy amid a backdrop of ongoing tensions.
The situation in the region remains complex, with ongoing efforts to uphold the ceasefire agreements while addressing security concerns and maintaining stability.
